to strap?

[french]

i always play my mandolin with a strap, fearing that it will slip out of my hands and off my body without it.

but now, i have attended a couple mandolin-orchestra concerts and met some good mandolin players at the musik-hochschule wuppertal and never saw a strap. i feel like i have training wheels on when playing sitting down with a strap.

is it safe to say that there's really no need for a strap when playing sitting down.

what about standing up?

based on the comments here, i might try to wean myself from the strap.

- tom

[Lane Pryce]

If I stand I have a strap over the shoulder.Sitting down I am more prone to lean over my mandolin and have no need for the strap. Any body see those cool pics in the classifides of the straps Loren Bailey is selling?They look real nice too. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Lp

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Personally, I use a strap only when standing. #The lap point on my mando gives me good non-visual feedback on where it is in realtionship to the rest of my body.

I have a friends who tie straps onto their mandolins and never take them off. #They use the strap either sitting or standing. #It works for them.

Do what makes you most comfortable and ready to play.


Best,
# # Daniel

[earthsave]

Ima over the head strapper, and do not take my strap off, so I almost always use it.

[mrbook]

Using the strap all the time, the mandolin is always in the same position, standing or sitting.

[Slim Pickins]

I strap over my shoulder. I try to keep the back of the mando away from my body a bit so the sound emits better. Listen to the back. Its great

[Bruce Evans]

Same thing. I use a strap while standing, but not while seated. I have seen some players play without a strap while standing, most notably Rhonda Vincent. But she has these really neat mandolin holders on her front side. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[AlanN]

One of the greatest of all time, Dave Appolon, never used a strap, either sitting or standing - go figure http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[french]

i think i'm about the only one in europe with a strap when sitting, but i'm almost the only one without a bowlback around here, too.

the celtic players tend to sit down, so no need of a strap, i assume.

of course, the bluegrassers usually are standing, so a strap is needed.

i do remember pictures of dave apollon in his biography standing up without a strap, but i thought they were promotional shots.

has anyone seen anyone playing standing up without a strap? how is this accomplished?

i usually play with feet on the table in my sofa, so i guess i don't need strap. off with the training wheels!

once i've mastered it, i will take my old gibson a and head off to the neighbouring village mandolin-orchestra (edelweiss giesenkirchen) practice. they probably won't let me in without a bowlback until they hear how sweet it sounds (not me, the instrument).

thanks for the tips!

- tom

[Baron Collins-Hill]

im another over the header, and use my strap all the time unless i am lying down

[Loren Bailey]

Lane,

Thanks for the plug. I think they're pretty good. Oh and by the way, my vote is to "strap" it at all times!!

Loren

[french]

well, loren, despite my current considerations, the only reason i started thinking about it, is that i am going to pick-up my new janish f-style natural in prag in about a month and need a strap.

if you can figure out postage to germany and let me know, i can figure out paypal and we're in business.

- tom

[Loren Bailey]

French,

Just emailed you.

Loren

[Lane Pryce]

Hey Loren!!!!Does that mean I get a complimentary strap? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif Lp

[Scotti Adams]

..the only thing I like strapless is dresses...not on me of course http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif or any other of you hairy fellers...

[Lane Pryce]

Gawd http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif Man I am glad you cleared that up! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Lp

[Scotti Adams]

ya think?

[mandolooter]

Use a strap, it won't fall off if ya tie it to the tailpiece with a short section of string, even if the endpin comes out!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Im with most of you. I usually just use a strap when i am standing.

[mandodebbie]

I learned to play my mando without a strap. After I bought a strap, I have never turned back. (It is difficult to remove anyway.) My hand is less cramped from trying to hold on to the instrument for dear life while I play. I can also play faster, as my left hand is no longer occupied with grasping that mando neck. However,I should teach myself to play standing up someday.

[Nolan]

Evan Marshall told me once that the lower rear point on the mandolin was designed to be tucked into the cumberbun on a tuxedo back when Orville made the first F style. I guess they were catering towards the classical crowd since no self-respecting classical mandolinist would ever play in front of a crowd without a Tux or use a strap.

[johnwalser]

Strap over shoulder...standing, sitting and everything in between. Mandolin is ALWAYS in same exact position and it keeps me from relying on my left hand to help support neck of mandolin and allows hand to reach frets more easily.
John

[french]

what are the views of the classical, celtic players, choro players out there on straps?

[doublestop]

I agree with johnwalser. Without a strap you are relying on your left hand for support. I always use a strap over the shoulder, whether sitting or standing. Read an article from Roland White in the last couple of months that said he recently switched to wearing his over the head. I tried, but couldn't get used to the "angle of dangle".

[Martin Jonas]

For bowlbacks, the issue is reasonably simple: virtually no bowlback has an end button or any other method of attaching a strap to the tailpiece, so strapless is the norm. So is sitting, although there has been some mention recently of people playing while walking through a room (think Valentine's dinner with serenading mandolinist romancing the couples from table to table...). Bowlbacks can be played standing without a strap, but rather you than me. As for Celtic, most play sitting down and I've seen them both with and without strap. Whatever works for you. Simon Mayor, for example, does recommend using a strap even when sitting down. He is very dismissive of the bluegrass over-the-shoulder style of strapping (making a scurrilous remark about cowboy hats getting in the way which I won't repeat in this forum given the number of bluegrassers around).

Martin

[ira]

always play with a strap. sitting, standing, crouching, laying down. comfort and security, as well as, stability of position of mando on the body.

[krishna]

I have allways made my students, both acoustic guitar and mandolin, play with a strap. The reasons are that 1st off, you no longer have to hold the instrument up(hands can cramp) and 2nd, it's allways in the same place. There is also the safety issue. A mandolin seems to be safer with a strap. With my "F" style, I have it longer for when I stand to play,and when I sit, I just tie the part that goes onto the scroll into a knot....Kerry

[John Flynn]

I strap over my right shoulder, Monroe-style, standing and sitting. The strap gives me a consistent position. Also, I have a Rigel and they are a bit "slippery" on the lap.

[Lane Pryce]

I received one of Loren's straps yesterday.Very nice work and super comfortable too.Yall should check em out.$15.00 well spent. Lp